What can you tell me about living in Jefferson Hills and the schools? (West Mifflin: houses, to buy) - Pittsburgh - Pennsylvania (PA) - City-Data Forum

tiga1 · 06-05-2012, 05:51 PM

We are considering moving to Jefferson this year and have heard the school district is very good. We have a 4 yo. girl and a 2 yo. boy (with autism). Is the school district in fact a good one and how are they for kids on the spectrum?

Any advice/opinions on living in Jefferson? Thank you!

ChloeBill · 06-05-2012, 08:02 PM

I grew up not far from there, and my parents live in West Jefferson Hills SD. The schools are very good -- not top-tier, and not a marquee district, but very good. I can't speak to the autism spectrum concern.

Depending on your commute, it can be an inconvenient location. I would not want to drive Rte 51 to the city during rush hour.

Do you have roots in the area? When I was a kid, it was not a place to which many people relocated. Most people had grown up in Pleasant Hills, Jefferson, or surrounding communities.

speagles84 · 06-05-2012, 08:27 PM

Jefferson Hills is a very nice place to live. The schools are very, very good. I'd agree with the inconvenient statement though. I lived in Homestead and South Park (areas close to Jefferson) and there are no major highways through the area. Where would you or your spouse be commuting to?

tiga1 · 06-06-2012, 04:26 AM

We currently live in Munhall and I need to commute to Oakland daily. We really don't have any roots there, but I've heard it's a good place to live and the taxes aren't bad. Some friends of ours are moving out there as well.

You may be right about convenience, although 51 is not that far but I'm no fan of that road. Munhall is very convenient and easy to get in and out of so this could be change. One of our primary reasons for moving is for a better school district for our kids. Having the ability to support our son's needs is extremely important.

ChloeBill · 06-06-2012, 06:04 AM

The commute to Oakland would not be not terrible, as long as you know the various back routes -- Streets Run Road, Route 837, and permutations thereof.

Do you know other parents of children on the autism spectrum? They might be good resources for whether WJHSD would serve your son well.

In terms of parts of West Jefferson Hills SD, Jefferson has more newer housing stock, but is a good 10-15 minutes away from everyday shopping like Giant Eagle and Target, and would add that time on to your Oakland commute -- while Pleasant Hills is closer to the city and is located closer to shopping, but has more 1940s-1960s houses (many quite attractive, but with the smaller footprint of houses from that era). However, there is some newer housing in PH. PH is even a bit walkable, if that is important to you.

tiga1 · 06-07-2012, 06:33 AM

Unfortunately we don't know other parents who's children are on the spectrum in WJHSD. I've thought about calling the school itself but I'm sure they are not going to tell me it's a bad program.

I seem to consistently hear that the school program in general is very good. People that we have talked to that live there seem to have no complaints.

robrobrob · 06-07-2012, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiga1

We currently live in Munhall and I need to commute to Oakland daily. We really don't have any roots there, but I've heard it's a good place to live and the taxes aren't bad. Some friends of ours are moving out there as well.

You may be right about convenience, although 51 is not that far but I'm no fan of that road. Munhall is very convenient and easy to get in and out of so this could be change. One of our primary reasons for moving is for a better school district for our kids. Having the ability to support our son's needs is extremely important.

My wife grew up in the Munhall area (technically it is called Lincoln Place). She holds the same high opinion of Jefferson as the other posters. Basically, it seems that if you grew up in Munhall (and maybe West Mifflin) and want better schools then you look in Jefferson since it is fairly close to Munhall.

Now, with no ties to the Munhall area I am not sure why you would choose to live in Jefferson due to its lousy location. Realistically, if you were to ask this forum where you should live if you worked in Oakland and wanted good schools, I doubt anyone would recommend Jefferson.

tiga1 · 06-07-2012, 11:19 AM

My wife grew up in Lincoln Place as well. Her family is still in that area as well as West Mifflin, Baldwin, etc.

robrobrob · 06-07-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiga1

My wife grew up in Lincoln Place as well. Her family is still in that area as well as West Mifflin, Baldwin, etc.

So, you do have a reason to buy out that way.

speagles84 · 06-07-2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiga1

We currently live in Munhall and I need to commute to Oakland daily. We really don't have any roots there, but I've heard it's a good place to live and the taxes aren't bad. Some friends of ours are moving out there as well.

You may be right about convenience, although 51 is not that far but I'm no fan of that road. Munhall is very convenient and easy to get in and out of so this could be change. One of our primary reasons for moving is for a better school district for our kids. Having the ability to support our son's needs is extremely important.

Oh I agree about the schools, personal experiences, Steel Valley is NOT good. Jefferson is a underrated area, its very nice and the school is very good. And I can tell you a thousand good ways to get to Oakland from Jefferson, I do it all the time because I travel from South Park to Oakland all the time because of school. What time of the day would you be leaving in the morning?